Homemade Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

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This homemade dark chocolate ice cream is so creamy and luxurious that you’ll never go back to the store-bought kind!

Homemade ice cream is one of our favorite treats to make on the weekend or with friends, there’s just something magical about it! This dark chocolate ice cream is forever a favorite as well as cheese cake ice cream recipe and this simple recipe for homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. No matter the flavor, you can’t really go wrong!

This homemade dark chocolate ice cream is so creamy and luxurious that you'll never go back to the store-bought kind! #icecream #chocolateicecream #icecreamrecipe #homemadeicecream #darkchocolate

Homemade Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

I’m one of those people who is happy to eat ice cream whether it’s the middle of July or the middle of a blizzard. I say just put a sweater on and keep scooping! Ice cream is all at once a love language, a mood booster, and one of the best sweet treats out there in my opinion, and it doesn’t get much better than a classic dark chocolate ice cream made at home.

Back in the day, ice cream makers were these enormous contraptions that required a bunch of ice and salt and time. Oh, the time! It was an endless process to make a seemingly simple treat. Luckily, brands like Cuisinart have streamlined the mechanics — I love their ice cream maker because all you have to do is freeze the canister that you make the ice cream in before adding the ingredients. No ice, no salt, and FAR less time spent making this chilly, sweet snack.

It comes out like a soft serve consistency, which is smooth and delicious. But if you like a firmer ice cream, just put it in a freezer-safe container before freezing for at least 2 hours. Set it on your counter for about 10 minutes to let it soften enough to scoop and serve. Voila! Homemade ice cream has never, ever been easier! (Not sponsored by Cuisinart, but I wanted to share a favorite product of ours!)

This homemade dark chocolate ice cream is so creamy and luxurious that you'll never go back to the store-bought kind! #icecream #chocolateicecream #icecreamrecipe #homemadeicecream #darkchocolate

How long does it take to make homemade ice cream?

Miraculously, with my ice cream maker this recipe comes together in just 30 minutes! However, if you want that firmer consistency akin to the store-bought kind, make sure to freeze it for at least a couple hours, which adds to the total time.

Why is my homemade ice cream not thickening?

Too much sugar can make ice cream clumpy or runny. Meanwhile, too much milk can make it harder because milk is mostly made of water, which freezes into ice crystals. I’ve found this recipe makes a nice, creamy, just-thick-enough consistency, so be sure to measure well!

What makes ice cream creamy?

Higher fat content creates a creamier ice cream. That’s why I like to use half cream and half milk — the combination creates a rich, creamy, and decadent consistency.

What is the best ice cream maker?

My favorite is this Cuisinart ice cream maker because it’s low maintenance and FAST! And we all know, when we want ice cream, we want it ASAP. The saying isn’t, “I politely ask for ice cream.” It’s, “I scream for ice cream!” So get you a maker that delivers!

This homemade dark chocolate ice cream is so creamy and luxurious that you'll never go back to the store-bought kind! #icecream #chocolateicecream #icecreamrecipe #homemadeicecream #darkchocolate

This homemade dark chocolate ice cream is so creamy and luxurious that you'll never go back to the store-bought kind! #icecream #chocolateicecream #icecreamrecipe #homemadeicecream #darkchocolate

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dark chocolate ice cream with halved strawberries in a small white dish

Dark Chocolate Ice Cream


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
  • Total Time: 30 min
  • Yield: 5 cups 1x

Description

This homemade dark chocolate ice cream is so creamy and luxurious that you’ll never go back to the store-bought kind!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 cup dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dark cocoa powder, sugars, and salt.
  2. While whisking, add the milk and the cream. Whisk together until completely combined, and the cocoa is completely dissolved with no lumps.
  3. Add the vanilla and combine.
  4. Pour the ice cream mixture in your ice cream maker, and process according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Notes

  • Hersey’s Special Dark Cocoa is what I use. It’s easy to find, so I’m sure you can get it, too.
  • I use a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, and you just freeze the canister the ice cream is made in. It takes about 15 minutes to make ice cream with no salt and ice to mess with. I love it!
  • If you like a harder ice cream, put the ice cream in a freezer container and cover. Let it freeze for at least 2 hours, and then let it sit on the counter for 10 minutes before serving. The ice cream straight out of the maker is just like soft-serve. Out of the freezer, it is like store-bought.
  • If you like a less “dark” chocolate, reduce the cocoa powder to 1/3 cup.
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: frozen
  • Cuisine: American

This homemade dark chocolate ice cream is so creamy and luxurious that you'll never go back to the store-bought kind! #icecream #chocolateicecream #icecreamrecipe #homemadeicecream #darkchocolate

Other homemade ice cream recipes you’ll love:

This post was originally published in 2012, and has been updated and re-photographed in August 2019.

I know you’ll love making and devouring this rich homemade dark chocolate ice cream… Serve it up with some fresh strawberries or more chocolate syrup, and you’ll be all set!

About Melissa

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10 Comments

  1. Best Chocolate Ice Cream…BAR NONE! So easy and absolutely delicious…rich, creamy & oh, so satisfying! For the cocoa, I measured about half of the 3/4 c using Special Dark/half regular cocoa. Wow…Fabulous! Paired with my homemade pound cake, it was an “out the park” hit with my children & grands. I’ve made it twice. Put little choc chips in one batch…almond extract in the other batch. Will put some chopped almonds in the next batch. Thank you so much! Oh, and I made your Peach Ice Cream, too! DEEELISH! I’m a happy gal… I’m making both again…and again…and again!






  2. This sounds so good! Not sure if I understood this part, if you want the ice cream to be hard, you put it in the freezer for 2 hours after using the ice cream maker, or immediately after mixing the ingredients? I don’t have an ice cream maker and was wondering if it would work without it. Thanks for the great recipe!

    1. Thanks! That sounds good too, I’ll try it. And maybe look for an ice cream maker 🙂 Btw I love your cookbook.

  3. I made this tonight and it was ahhh-amazing!!!!! I added ground hot chili peppers, scorpion to be exact, and cacao nibs….whole new level of flavor!!!

  4. I have always wondered how people get that ice cream hard. It would make sense that you need to put it back in the freezer…but who has the patience. Have a fun year with Macey. I think it’s a great idea. You only have your kids around you for a short time.